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Monday, August 21, 2006

More From the Religious Right

I tried to copy and paste an article from The Salt Lake City Tribune but it didn't work too well.

Tina at Fuzzy and Blue has an excellent post which includes the link to the article.

Remember faith based initiatives? What we feared has come to pass. These agencies are accepting public funding while discriminating in their hiring practices. Is anyone surprised?

And then there's this.

First Baptist Church in Watertown, NY, a member of the American Baptist Convention, has fired a woman who taught Sunday School there for 54 years. Their reasoning? She's a woman. They claim to have other reasons which for reasons of "Christian courtesy" they will not disclose.

I was raised in a member church of the ABC. My mom was a Sunday School teacher there for at least 40 years, maybe more. We were in that church every time the doors opened. It's quite different from the Southern Baptist Convention, or so I thought until today. I was wrong.

I went over to their website and read the letter from their pastor (who is also a member of the City Council). He's basing his decision on the literal interpretation of one verse of the Bible, (what scholars refer to as proof texting and I call cherry picking) the same verse which prohibits some denominations from ordaining women. But a Sunday School teacher? What could this woman possibly have done to deserve this treatment? She has to be in her 70's or 80's.

They're within their rights to do whatever they wish and Baptist churches are to some extent autonomous. I don't know why this decision was made (although I have some ideas from reading the pastor's letter) but I'm disappointed at their treatment of a woman who has served them for that length of time. Much of it sounds like political infighting. Of course they are disappointed at the media attention at what they believe should have been their little secret. Gosh, it almost sounds like the federal government.

It also attracted the attention of the Watertown Mayor who was not happy.

Several of the local churches have offered her a church home. I hope she takes one of them up on it. It would be too much to hope that the women of the congregation who keep the doors open or have in every church I've ever attended follow her.

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10 Comments:

  • At Tuesday, August 22, 2006 1:23:00 AM , Blogger The Future Was Yesterday said...

    Re F.B.I.: I believe Bush won his "You don't have to hire anybody not from your church" fight not too long after FBI was introduced, but it was drowned out by a political fight over some other matter. I decided to test it, and went to a church, volunteering for simple yard work. I was honest; I said I attended no church. They let me work anyway. But that of course, was only one place.

    The Sunday School Teacher: Terrifying, and that's being kind. It seems all organized religions are moving to the right in big steps. Whether this is just "keep up with the times", or if it continues, is yet to be seen.

     
  • At Tuesday, August 22, 2006 6:18:00 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    The CR and those who follow them believe that women should be home bound, attending children and keeping house and comforts for the man. Leadership roles are strictly for men. Women should be silent in the church. Male domination is on the rise.

     
  • At Tuesday, August 22, 2006 12:11:00 PM , Blogger yellowdoggranny said...

    Dear Goddes,
    Please save me from Christians
    Love, Jackie

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 8:44:00 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    Yellowdog Granny; Both Granny and I are Christians. Please do not lump ALL Christians with the Religious Right, Christian Coalition, nor (PLEASE) the Christian Reconstructionists.

    It has become a distressing trend for some members of the public to judge all Christians by those radicals. You know the KKK claims to be Christian; would you lump us with them? I think not. That's somewhat like saying all teeners are gangbangers, or all minorities are criminals, or all gays are pedophiles.

    Please, everyone: when you criticize or disagree with a certain group, be specific,do not generalize. Non-radical Christians who try to live by Christ's teachings are harmed and denigrated by such practises. I do not believe such is your intention toward Granny and me and others like us.

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 8:55:00 AM , Blogger Granny said...

    If anything, we are more offended and angry by the actions of people I consider factions, no matter what religion they profess.

    We're not only angry, we're hurt and to be lumped in with these morons hurts us more.

    I keep thinking I should personally apologize for the actions of others.

    Instead, I keep fighting them. It's my faith they're destroying.

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 9:48:00 AM , Blogger billie said...

    that is what i fail to understand- how these bubble headed women can continue to roll over and accept this bullshit. how must you have been raised to think that being treated thusly is acceptable? makes me crazy. this is why i am so firmly against organized religion of any kind- especially in america in the 21st century. if you are an adult- fairy tale time is over. grow the hell up and join the rest of us. makes me mad.

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 10:17:00 AM , Blogger JBlue said...

    I posted about this at Tina's. Crazy.

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 10:41:00 AM , Blogger Granny said...

    That whole gang is certifiable and they're using religion as a cover for their facism.

    Crazy is much too kind a word.

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 3:18:00 PM , Blogger Ingrid said...

    That is living in a microcosm type bubble alright. This organization (sorry, forgot their name I'll try to find it in my archives later) comprised of all different mostly christian faiths banded together to denounce torture. There are churches and christians/believers of all faiths who, as an expression of that faith use it to denounce injustices instead of perpetrating it or condoning it or pretending that it doesn't exist so take hope in that..these examples are the ones who gain media attention, it's time for the other type of believers to make their own news in a more progressive light.
    btw granny and worried, and whoever else has a blog; check out the letter I received from a public radio show for a request of participation input (invitation hereby extended to 'ya'll') where you can spread your own word and opinion..it's tonight so check it out as soon as you can..you guys have some well thought out critiques that deserve attention..
    Ingrid

     
  • At Wednesday, August 23, 2006 5:29:00 PM , Blogger peppylady (Dora) said...

    what are these christens are hiding behind?

     

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